Gymnastics
Gymnastics has three Olympic disciplines: artistic, rhythmic and trampoline. In artistic gymnastics men compete on six apparatus and women on four, and each score adds a difficulty (D) score with no upper limit to an execution (E) score that starts at 10. In rhythmic gymnastics a gymnast performs to music on a 13-metre square floor while keeping a hoop, ball, clubs or ribbon moving. In trampoline a gymnast performs ten somersaulting elements in a row, scored on execution, difficulty, time of flight and position on the bed.
New to gymnastics? Start here
Which to watch first, and how long
Start with Artistic. The best-known form, one routine at a time.
- Artistic
- Short routines on each apparatus, scored for difficulty and execution
- Rhythmic
- Routines with an apparatus, alone or in groups
- Trampoline
- Routines of ten skills, scored for difficulty, execution and time of flight
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Olympic Games (gymnastics)The title each gymnastics discipline is measured by.Every 4 years · Holder: 18 events
- 2FIG World ChampionshipsThe world title in each discipline.Yearly, except Olympic years (Jakarta 2025; Rotterdam 2026) · Holder: 12 events, 7 for men and 5 for women; Darja Varfolomeev won the all-around; Men's: Wang Zisai · Women's: Hu Yicheng
- 3Asian Games (gymnastics)Asia's multi-sport title; for India often the most reachable major medal.Every 4 years · Holder: 18 events; China won 9
- 4Commonwealth Games (gymnastics)A multi-sport title against the Commonwealth nations.Every 4 years · Holder: 14 artistic events; Canada won 7
India
- Gymnastics at the Olympic Games: No medal; best place 4th, Dipa Karmakar, women's vault, Rio de Janeiro 2016
- World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: No medal
- Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships: No medal
- Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships: No medal
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IndiaGymnastics at the Asian Games: 1 bronze (latest 2010); Gymnastics at the Commonwealth Games: 1 silver, 2 bronzes (latest 2014)
- Soviet UnionGymnastics at the Olympic Games: 73 golds, 67 silvers, 44 bronzes (latest 1988); World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: 111 golds, 86 silvers, 59 bronzes (latest 1991)
- ChinaWorld Artistic Gymnastics Championships: 95 golds, 61 silvers, 51 bronzes (latest 2025); Gymnastics at the Asian Games: 161 golds, 98 silvers, 52 bronzes (latest 2026)
- RussiaRhythmic Gymnastics World Championships: 121 golds, 62 silvers, 40 bronzes (latest 2026); Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships: 82 golds, 45 silvers, 46 bronzes (latest 2025)
- United StatesGymnastics at the Olympic Games: 43 golds, 46 silvers, 43 bronzes (latest 2024); Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships: 79 golds, 76 silvers, 58 bronzes (latest 2025)
- JapanGymnastics at the Olympic Games: 36 golds, 34 silvers, 37 bronzes (latest 2024); World Artistic Gymnastics Championships: 57 golds, 61 silvers, 73 bronzes (latest 2025)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), the 2025-2028 Codes of Points for each discipline |
| International federation | Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG) |
| In India | Gymnastics Federation of India (GFI): recognised, on the MYAS list for 2026 |
Where and when it is played
The big events: the Olympic Games every four years and the FIG World Championships of each discipline every year except Olympic years.